High yield extraction method for and products of corydalis plants

ABSTRACT

A method of extracting a  C. yanhusuo  plant comprising the steps of harvesting and drying the plant; extracting the alkaloids from the plant in a solvent; filtering the solvent- C. yanhusuo  plant mixture to remove the solvent and extracted alkaloids from a spent plant matter; drying the spent plant matter; purifying and separating the extracted alkaloids from the solvent; and mixing the purified alkaloids back into the dried spent plant matter. Also, products of the method include vaporizing liquids, medicinal compositions, kief compositions, rolling papers, and filters for tobacco and vaporizing equipment comprising the mixture of the purified alkaloids and the dried spent plant matter produced according to the method. Further, a  C. yanhusuo  plant having a total alkaloid content of about 3%, of which 97% of the total alkaloid content is bulbocapnine and tetrahydropalmatine (THP).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. applicationSer. No. 17/093,937, filed Nov. 10, 2020, which is incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods of high yield extraction ofherbaceous plant matter. More particularly, the present inventionrelates to methods of high yield extraction of Corydalis yanhusuo plantspecies and products thereof for medicinal and commercial use, as wellas use in combination with extracts of cannabis.

BACKGROUND

The historically therapeutic plant Corydalis yanhusuo, is indigenous tohigh altitude grasslands of China. There are at least 470 species of thegenus Corydalis, with Corydalis yanhusuo (also referred to herein as C.yanhusuo) being known to traditional Chinese medicine as an importanttherapeutic medicine. The tuber of the plant is often processed using acombination of drying, grinding, or fermenting to yield a product whichis consumed as an analgesic, at least in traditional Chinese medicine.

Crude plant extracts or plant material traditionally consumed byingestion contains many compounds, such as secondary metabolites, whichmay affect many targets in the body simultaneously. These complexmixtures of phytochemicals may have numerous, synergistic effects in thebody and “minor” metabolites may likely affect targets that have anequilibrizing effect that can, for example, mitigate side effects ascompared to a synthetic pure pharmaceutical. The overall effect may bemore desirable and more potent than that of only one compound alone.

Known cultivars of the cannabis plant produce hundreds of compounds withtheir own therapeutic potential and the capability to induce synergicresponses when combined. This heightened effect is referred to as the“entourage effect”. Often the entourage effect of the supportive butundescribed molecules in a whole plant extract may potentiate the targetmolecules, yielding a more desirable result. For instance, one studytested the anti-tumor efficacy of the botanical drug preparation (wholeplant extract) versus pure tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) against breastcancer. <URL:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006295218302387>.The results provide that while pure THC acted by activating cannabinoidCB₂ receptors and generating reactive oxygen species, the whole plantextract modulated different targets and mechanisms of action. These, andother similar experimental results suggest that standardized cannabisdrug preparations, rather than pure cannabinoids, could be considered aspart of the therapeutic armamentarium to manage various diseases and inthis particular study, breast cancer.

However, processes for extraction of the alkaloids related to how theyinfluence the entourage effect are under advanced and not available forthe scientific and global community.

The alkaloids contained in Corydalis yanhusuo are believed to possesssignificant bioactivity and at least include bulbocapnine,tetrahydropalmatine (THP), in addition to protopine, α-allocryptopine,tetrahydrocolumbamine, coptisine, palmatine, berberine,dhydrocorydaline, tetrahydroberberine, corydaline, andtetrahydrocoptisine.

Plant hybridization of plant species, such as those in the Corydalisgenus, may occur naturally and through cultivation. Hybridized medicinalor non-medicinal plants provide many benefits, including phytochemicaland phytonutrient enriched properties and increased yields of certainalkaloids that have yet to be further researched and discovered. Suchplants may be desirable in embodiments of the present extraction methodfor the unique outputs and thus compositions achievable.

Two receptors, CB1 and CB2, of the endocannabinoid system have beenidentified so far, with consensus being that there very well could bemore yet to be discovered. CB1 and CB2 receptors are both G-proteincoupled receptors. Endocannabinoids act as retrograde signalingmessengers that stimulate presynaptic CB1 receptors on neurons in thebrain. This stimulation results in regulation of ion channel activities,inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity and activation of themitogen-activated protein kinase cascade.

CB1 receptors are the most abundant receptors in the mammalian brain,and also have been detected in other peripheral tissues and cells suchas testis, eye, urinary bladder, ileum and adipocytes, though in lowerconcentrations than in the brain. CB1 receptors are found in brain areasrelated to the control of anxiety and emotional perception. In rats, CB1receptors have been found with 5-HT transporters in the amygdale,suggesting that they mediate 5-HT release therefore possibly a targetfor the treatment of disorders related to mood, anxiety and cognition.

Corydalis species (e.g. Corydalis yanhusuo) have been shown to displaypotent CB1 receptor binding. The mood enhancing and stimulant propertiesof the whole plant extract of Corydalis yanhusuo has been traditionallyutilized by the people of China. In addition to these effects,preparations of C. yanhusuo has shown it can mitigate pain. Theseeffects have been confirmed by proving serotonin-uptake inhibitionactivity with unfermented alkaloid extracts proving to possess a higheractivity to bind CB1 receptor compared to that of fermented alkaloidextracts.

Despite the vast forward progress in herbal medicinal research, theproperties (specific phytonutrients, phytomaterials, and certainphytochemicals) and effects of the alkaloids extracted from plantspecies of Corydalis yanhusuo and current extraction processes toadvance these properties and effects regarding how they affect thebiochemical reactions of the endocannabinoid system remain in need offurther development.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method of extracting a C. yanhusuo plant which includes the steps ofharvesting and drying the C. yanhusuo plant; extracting the alkaloidsfrom the C. yanhusuo plant in a solvent; filtering the solvent/C.yanhusuo plant mixture to remove the solvent and extracted alkaloidsfrom a spent C. yanhusuo plant matter; drying the spent C. yanhusuoplant matter; purifying and separating the extracted alkaloids from thesolvent; and mixing the purified alkaloids back into the dried spent C.yanhusuo plant matter.

Also provided is a vaporizing liquid having a mixture of the purifiedalkaloids and the dried spent C. yanhusuo plant matter producedaccording to the method of extraction. Further provided is a vaporizingliquid wherein the extraction method further has a step of solubilizingin a second solvent.

Further provided is a medicinal composition having a mixture of thepurified alkaloids and dried spent C. yanhusuo plant matter producedaccording to the method of extraction.

Moreover, a kief composition is provided having a mixture of thepurified alkaloids and dried spent C. yanhusuo plant matter producedaccording to the method of extraction.

Even further provided are papers for combustion, for instance insmoking, impregnated or coated with a mixture of the purified alkaloidsand dried spent C. Yanhusuo plant matter produced according to themethod of extraction.

A C. yanhusuo plant having a total alkaloid content of 3%, of which 97%of the total alkaloid content is bulbocapnine and tetrahydropalmatine(THP).

Also provided are filters, for example for smoking or vaporizationequipment, containing, impregnated or coated with, a mixture of thepurified alkaloids and dried spent C. yanhusuo plant matter producedaccording to the method of extraction.

Numerous other features and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading ofthe following detailed description of presently preferred, butnonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. In this respect,before explaining embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and to the arrangements of the components setforth in the following description or illustrated in the figures. Theinvention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced andcarried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

Before undertaking the detailed description of the invention below, itmay be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words andphrases used throughout this patent document. Throughout thisspecification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word“comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” or the term“includes” or variations, thereof, or the term “having” or variations,thereof will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element orinteger or group of elements or integers but not the exclusion of anyother element or integer or group of elements or integers. Furthermore,a person skilled in the art of reading claimed inventions shouldunderstand that “a” and “an” each generally denotes “at least one,” butdoes not exclude a plurality unless the contextual use dictatesotherwise. And that the term “or” denotes “at least one of the items,”but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention describedherein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than thosespecifically described. It is to be understood that the inventionincludes all such variations and modification which fall within itsspirit and scope.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES (NON-LIMITING EMBODIMENTS OF THEDISCLOSURE)

The invention will be better understood and aspects other than those setforth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing description thereof. Such description makes reference to theannexed figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a bonding diagram of Bulbocapnine andtetrahydropalmatine.

FIG. 2 illustrates a mass spectrometry of a C. yanhusuo samplecomprising bulbocapnine.

FIG. 3 illustrates a mass spectrometry of a further C. yanhusuo sample.

FIG. 4 illustrates a mass spectrometry of a C. yanhusuo sample beforeand after enhanced concentration of select target molecules through theinventive process disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, methods of high yield extraction of plant matter of aCorydalis yanhusuo plant species and products thereof for medicinal andcommercial use have been described.

An embodiment of the invention is a method of extracting a C. yanhusuoplant including the steps of harvesting and drying the plant; extractingthe alkaloids from the plant in a solvent; filtering the solvent-C.yanhusuo plant mixture to remove the solvent and extracted alkaloidsfrom a spent C. yanhusuo plant matter; drying the spent plant matter;purifying and separating the extracted alkaloids from the solvent; andmixing the purified alkaloids back into the dried spent plant matter.

Following the completion of the harvesting and drying of the C. yanhusuoplant, the C. yanhusuo plant is combined with a known solvent (thesolvent may be determined upon the method of ‘separation’ chosen and thecriteria of the equipment being used). During this step in the process,the bulk of the desired phytochemicals soluble in the selected solventare isolated away from bulk fibers, structural plant material and celldebris. Depleted waste materials such as fibers, structural plantcomponents, and cell debris may be disposed of in chemical wastecontainers. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, otherphytochemicals, phytonutrients, or phytomaterials such as cannabidiols(CBD) may be added to the plant and the solvent during this extractionstep and in another embodiment, could be mixed at the end of theprocess. Again, in other embodiments, other cannabis components could beadded such as, for instance, but not limited to, cannabielsoin (CBE),cannabinol (CBN), cannabichromene (CBC), and cannabigerol (CBG), thusleading to different ultimate combinations.

This mixture may be prepared in a simple base extract and processed bySoxhlet extraction or other industry accepted methodologies or systems.In the example of using Soxhlet extraction, the solvent is then removed,and the extract is subjected to acidification (H₂SO₄). An organicsolvent (such as hexane) is used to wash the acidic solvent solution andthe organic phase discarded, followed by adding an ammonia solution toneutralize it and result in an alkaline solution. This alkaline solutionmay be further extracted with dichloromethane.

These solvent fractions can then be collected into a flask, filtered,and the solvent removed to yield a liquid containing only the desiredalkaloids. Removal of the solvent from the desired alkaloids may becarried out by known processes, including, but not limited to,distillation, open-dish evaporation, reduced-pressure evaporation,rotary evaporation, vacuum, lyophilization, or a combination of methodsthereof. For instance, removal of the solvent in one embodiment is byrotary evaporation.

The solvent may be a known food grade solvent, including but not limitedto ethanol, methanol, hydroalcohol, acetone, acetonitrile, hexane,heptane, hexane, chloroform, dichloromethane, water, and mixturesthereof. For instance, in one embodiment, the solvent is ethanol. In anembodiment of the method, the amount of solvent added is about 1:1 withthe plant matter.

Solvents are chosen based on equipment specifications and the relativecovalency of the compounds. There are many covalent compounds whichcould be used in this method. The heating step has particulartemperature and time parameters dictated by the equipment used. Forinstance, ethanol, which is used in one embodiment, evaporates veryeasily under low vacuum, and thus the equipment cycling parameters arechosen based on the need for evaporation of the ethanol solvent.

Removal of the solvent can be, but is not limited to, a process selectedfrom distillation, open-dish evaporation, reduced-pressure evaporation,rotary evaporation, vacuum, lyophilization, or a combination of methodsthereof. In one embodiment, the solvent is removed by rotary evaporationwhich is efficient in removing the solvent.

After filtration, the remaining alkaloid extracts that were removed fromthe solvent are then subjected to the purification and separationtechniques to isolate the target alkaloid molecules away from the myriadof other phytochemicals extracted by the solvent, which may not bedesired. The purification and separation of the alkaloids in the methodis carried out by passing the solvent and extracted alkaloids over orthrough a process selected from column chromatography comprising areverse stationary phase, a normal stationary phase or combinationthereof, ion-exchange chromatography, gel-permeation (molecular sieve)chromatography, affinity chromatography, paper chromatography,thin-layer chromatography, gas chromatography, dye-ligandchromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, pseudoaffinitychromatography, and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Use of aparticular purification and separation technique is dictated by theequipment design to use the modality.

An example of an undesired product of herbal plant extraction areoxalates, which are found in raw plant material of C. yanhusuo.Traditional and contemporary methods of preparation serve to reducelevels of potentially harmful oxalates found in C. yanhusuo. Knownanalyses have indicated levels of 3.6-5.1% oxalate in wild type plants,which falls within the median range for crop plants like spinach orkale. It has been previously speculated that physical crushing of theplant and the fermentation process reduce the potentially harmfuleffects of oxalic acid. In particular, free oxalic acid is likely tocomplex with cell wall-associated calcium salts and precipitate ascalcium oxalate when plant material is crushed. Purification andseparation techniques (such as flash chromatography) should enablemaximum removal of oxalates as they should remain outside of theestablished absorption medium through these methods. The eluentscontaining the target alkaloids at higher yields are collected forfurther processing.

Once the active target molecules are purified to an acceptable extentand concentrated, the isolated alkaloid products are then washed,filtered and dried. The purified, concentrated products (bulbocapnine,THP, and other target alkaloids or optionally added phytochemicals) arere-combined with the dried spent plant matter to produce an optimizedproduct, a “whole herb,” to take advantage of the target alkaloidspotency while utilizing the heightened “entourage effect” of the manyundescribed phytochemicals found in the dried spent plant matter.

This mixture of the purified alkaloids combined with the dried spentplant matter can then be “sprinkled” on other herbal products (i.e.,ginger, turmeric, holy basil, among other known products) or mixed withother phytochemicals, phytonutrients, or phytomaterials by the consumer,packed into capsules or tablets, or re-solubilized into a second solventliquid for further formulation, medicinal or commercial uses includingapplication on or in known delivery vehicles, such as vaporizingliquids, electronic liquids (e-liquids) for vaporization, medicinalcompositions, kief, saturated or infused rolling papers, and filters fortobacco and vaporizing equipment, and internasal delivery systems suchas a spray.

In one embodiment, the process of separation and isolation of alkaloidsfrom Corydalis species via flash chromatography can be carried out afterfiltration. Referencing relevant alkaloid reference standards in orderto properly identify the target molecules we use a Biotage Flashchromatography Isolera Single Channel system or Biotage Selekt FlashChromatography system utilizing a C18 reverse phase silica column anddetected at a UV wavelength of 254 nm. Some solvents used may beDichloromethane, acetone, methanol and acetonitrile. Methanol and 1%acetic acid or formic acid in water mixed over a 10 minute gradientprogram, passes through the C18 column, separating out our targetproducts by detectable peaks on the chromatogram. Following theseparation of components by flash chromatography, collected eluents arethen filtered and processed again through the Flash Chromatography unit(Biotage Isolera or Selekt chromatography system), utilizing resins withdifferent characteristics such as charge or hydrophobicity yielding puretarget products of bulbocapnine, protopine, α-allocryptopine,tetrahydrocolumbamine, coptisine, palmatine, berberine,dehydrocorydaline, D,L-tetrahydropalmatine, tetrahydroberberine,corydaline and tetrahydrocoptisine (as well as others). Theseconcentrated molecules can then be re-suspended into the whole herbextract to produce the desired product at multiple units ofconcentration.

The method could also further include solubilizing the mixture of thepurified alkaloids and the dried spent plant matter in a second solvent,such as, for instance an electronic vaporizer liquid (“e-liquid”) or ina second solvent before putting in an e-liquid. The second solvent couldbe a known food grade solvent, including but not limited to ethanol,methanol, hydroalcohol, acetone, acetonitrile, hexane, heptane, hexane,chloroform, dichloromethane, water, and mixtures thereof.

The second solvent liquid may be the same or different from the solventof the mixture of the plant before the purification and separation stepof the method. In one embodiment of the method, the amount of secondsolvent liquid added is about 1:1 of the mixture of the purifiedalkaloids and dried spent plant matter product.

Either the plant and the solvent mixture during extraction or the finalmixture of the purified alkaloids and the dried spent plant matter canbe mixed with other herbal products, including ginger, turmeric, holybasil, and cannabidiols (CBD) from known cannabinoids.

In an embodiment of this invention, cannabidiols (CBD) could be added tothe plant and the solvent during extraction, and in another embodiment,CBD can be added at the end of the process after all products aredried/mixed together. In yet another embodiment, a different cannabiscomponent can be used in the mix such as, for instance, but not limitedto, cannabielsoin (CBE), cannabinol (CBN), cannabichromene (CBC),cannabigerol (CBG) and mixtures thereof. The cannabidiol source can beselected from, but is not limited to, hemp plant, crude hemp oil, kief,nabiximol, epidiolex, and combinations thereof, and preferably is crudehemp oil.

Cannabinoids can be defined as any extract, isolate, or derivative ofthe Cannabaceae genus of botanicals, comprising the C. sativa, C.indica, and C. ruderalis families, or any combination thereof, producedby—or as part of—a synthetic transformative process involving any othercombination of cannabinoids or their derivatives. This starting materialcan be obtained from any commercially available sources, or synthesizedin situ, at a time prior to inception of the methods described herein.The cannabidiol (CBD) sources can include but are not limited to hempplant, crude hemp oil, nabiximol, epidiolex, and combinations thereof toprovide the cannabidiols (CBD) for combination with the mixtures in thepresent methods. In one embodiment of the cannabidiol (CBD) is crudehemp oil. In an alternative embodiment, a combination of cannabidiols isutilized in the methods presented herein.

Provided in FIG. 1 is a bonding diagram of bulbocapnine andtetrahydropalmatine. By the present method, alkaloids such asbulbocapnine and tetrahydropalmatine and some minor alkaloids such asprotopine, α-allocryptopine, tetrahydrocolumbamine, coptisine,palmatine, berberine, dehydrocorydaline, tetrahydroberberine, corydalineand tetrahydrocoptisine are isolated, concentrated, and re-suspendedwith the raw whole C. yanhusuo plant matter of the method in order toprovide a full-Spectrum extract with concentrated, stabilized targetmolecules.

The process of separation and isolation of alkaloids from C. yanhusouspecies via flash chromatography can be carried out after filtration.Referencing relevant alkaloid reference standards in order to properlyidentify the target molecules, a Biotage® Flash chromatography IsoleraSingle Channel system or Biotage Selekt® Flash Chromatography systemutilizing a C18 reverse phase silica column and detected at a UVwavelength of 228 nm was used. Methanol and 1% acetic acid in watermixed over a 25-minute gradient program, passes through the C18 column,separating out the target alkaloids by detectable peaks on thechromatogram. This is a typical HPLC chromatogram of a methanol extractand the retention times of major compounds purported to elute at 2.38,3.15, 4.89 and 7.84 and a flow rate of 1 ml/min.

Following the separation of components by flash chromatography,collected eluents are then filtered and processed again through theFlash Chromatography unit (Biotage Isolera or Selekt chromatographysystem), utilizing resins with different characteristics such as chargeor hydrophobicity yielding pure target products of bulbocapnine andtetrahydropalmatine (THP), at a minimum concentration of 50% of totalalkaloids, in addition to a minimum of doubling the concentration ofother target molecules such as protopine, α-allocryptopine,tetrahydrocolumbamine, coptisine, palmatine, berberine,dehydrocorydaline, tetrahydroberberine, corydaline andtetrahydrocoptisine. These concentrated molecules were then re-suspendedinto the whole herb extract to produce the desired product at multipleunits of concentration.

In one embodiment, at the extraction phase, a concentration ofapproximately 20-30% bulbocapnine and tetrahydropalmatine (THP) isexpected, constituent to a total alkaloid content of approximately70-90%. After the chromatography steps, the target moleculesbulbocapnine and tetrahydropalmatine (THP) should have a minimumconcentration of 50% total alkaloid content. Other non-primary targetmolecules including protopine, α-allocryptopine, tetrahydrocolumbamine,coptisine, palmatine, berberine, dehydrocorydaline,D,L-tetrahydropalmatine, tetrahydroberberine, corydaline andtetrahydrocoptisine have a minimum concentration range from 2:1, 5:1,8:1, up to 10:1 respectively.

After mixing the plant with the solvent, a concentration ofapproximately 0.3% bulbocapnine and tetrahydroplamatine and totalalkaloid content of approximately 1.5% was notedly expected. After thepurification and isolation steps of the method, the alkaloid content inthis embodiment will have a minimum concentration of 18:1. Othernon-primary target molecules including protopine, α-allocryptopine,tetrahydrocolumbamine, coptisine, palmatine, berberine,dehydrocorydaline, tetrahydroberberine, corydaline andtetrahydrocoptisine have a minimum concentration range in thisembodiment of from 2:1, 5:1, 8:1, to up to 10:1, respectively, afterpurification.

The extraction process consistently demonstrates higher yields. Forinstance, the experiment was run four times four and run throughchromatography as discussed herein. The same conditions were used, andthe below table provides the output of bulbocapnine, THP, and othertarget molecules detected in the elution and isolation step for each ofthe four runs.

FIG. 2 shows an illustrative chromatogram of C. yanhusuo comprisingbulbocapnine.

Embodiments of the concentration of target molecules are 18:1, 25:1, or40:1. These are then resuspended in raw crude extract at a 1:1concentration with the target molecules. Unexpectedly, this does notincrease the concentration of the raw crude extract, but rather, itspikes or unexpectedly selects for certain target molecules within thecombination while at the same time isolates additional molecules in theextract as well which were not expected or potentially were unknown.This provides the benefit of the variety of molecules both known andunknown within the crude extract as well as the benefit of including theadded concentrated, purified target molecules.

Experimental results also show that the bulk extraction of C. yanhusuois an effective extraction process for retrieving alkaloids contained inthe C. yanhusuo plant which possess significant bioactivity include:bulbocapnine, tetrahydropalmatine, protopine, α-allocryptopine,tetrahydrocolumbamine, coptisine, palmatine, berberine,dehydrocorydaline, tetrahydroberberine, corydaline, andtetrahydrocoptisine. As such, the extraction process and methodologiesare capable of providing consistent results, through many trials androutine experimentation in the art.

Providing the concentrated, stabilized target molecules at an effectiveconcentration of 2:1 or more in order to achieve desired biologicalactivities unexpectedly and advantageously produced the unknownheightened “entourage effect” of countless other phytonutrients in theplant that were not extracted, and thus provides a “whole-herb” extractdelivery for medicinal and commercial use. This heightened “entourageeffect” activity through the extraction method of the C. yanhusuo plantalso provides unrealized insight in relation to how phytochemicals andcannabinoids are metabolized by the body through the endocannabinoidsystem. As a result of the higher yields of the alkaloids in the C.yanhusuo plant and the heightened entourage effect, further advancementswith mixtures of these alkaloid products with additional phytonutrients,phytomaterials, and phytochemicals such as cannabinoids themselves canbe envisioned for enhanced synergistic effects. Medicinal uses andcommercial uses are both envisioned.

Some medicinal uses may include, but are not limited to, compositionsfor treatment of psychological disorders ranging from depression toanxiety. The resulting compositional output of the present method may beused to treat disorders in the form of a sleep aid, pain relief,performance enhancer, premenstrual syndrome, and eating disorders.

Various delivery vehicles can be used, as discussed above, and thechoice of the same will depend on various factors such as, but notlimited to, the desired result or ease of manipulation or even the speedof delivery or efficacy, and the concentration of the final compositionof the present method could be dictated by the desired effect, thesubject, what is being treated, a combination of any of the same andother factors.

While certain embodiments of the methods herein have been described indetail with reference to the accompanying figures, it should be apparentthat modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of whichfall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. The inventionalso includes all of the steps, features, compositions and compoundsreferred to or indicated in this specification, individually orcollectively, and any and all combinations of any two or more of saidsteps or features.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basisfor other compositions, formulations, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application. The Abstract is neither intended to define theinvention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is itintended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

These together with other aspects of the invention, along with thevarious features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointedout with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part ofthis disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, itsoperating advantages and the specific aspects attained by its uses,reference should be had to the accompanying figures and descriptionmatter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of theinvention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of extracting a Corydalis yanhusuo (C.yanhusuo) plant comprising the steps of: harvesting and drying the C.yanhusuo plant; extracting the alkaloids from the C. yanhusuo plant in asolvent; filtering the solvent-C. yanhusuo plant mixture to remove thesolvent and extracted alkaloids from a spent C. yanhusuo plant matter;drying the spent C. yanhusuo plant matter; purifying and separating theextracted alkaloids from the solvent; and mixing the purified alkaloidsback into the dried spent C. yanhusuo plant matter.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the C. yanhusuo plant has a total alkaloidcontent of about 3%, of which, about 97% are a combination ofbulbocapnine and tetrahydropalmatine.
 3. The method according to claim1, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of ethanol,methanol, hydroalcohol, acetone, acetonitrile, hexane, heptane, hexane,chloroform, dichloromethane, water, and mixtures thereof.
 4. The methodaccording to claim 3, wherein the solvent is ethanol.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the removal of the solvent is by a processselected from the group consisting of distillation, open-dishevaporation, reduced-pressure evaporation, rotary evaporation, vacuum,lyophilization, or a combination of methods thereof.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 5, wherein the removal of the solvent is by rotaryevaporation.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein thepurification and separation of the alkaloids is carried out by passingthe solvent and extracted alkaloids over or through a process selectedfrom the group consisting of column chromatography comprising a reversestationary phase, a normal stationary phase or combination thereof,ion-exchange chromatography, gel-permeation (molecular sieve)chromatography, affinity chromatography, paper chromatography,thin-layer chromatography, gas chromatography, dye-ligandchromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, pseudoaffinitychromatography, and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).
 8. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises addingcannabidiols (CBD) to the C. yanhusuo plant and the solvent duringextraction.
 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the cannabidiolssource is selected from the group consisting of hemp plant, crude hempoil, kief, nabiximol, epidiolex, and combinations thereof.
 10. Themethod according to claim 9, wherein the cannabidiols source is crudehemp oil.
 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the methodfurther comprises adding cannabidiols (CBD) to the mixture of thepurified alkaloids and the dried spent C. yanhusuo plant matter.
 12. Themethod according to claim 11, wherein the cannabidiols source isselected from the group consisting of hemp plant, crude hemp oil, kief,nabiximol, epidiolex, and combinations thereof.
 13. The method accordingto claim 12, wherein the cannabidiol source is crude hemp oil.
 14. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprisessolubilizing the mixture of the purified alkaloids and the dried spentC. yanhusuo plant matter in a second solvent.
 15. The method accordingto claim 14, wherein the second solvent is selected from the groupconsisting of ethanol, methanol, hydroalcohol, acetone, acetonitrile,hexane, heptane, hexane, chloroform, dichloromethane, water, andmixtures thereof.
 16. The method of claim 14, further comprising thestep of infusing into a vaporizing liquid the mixture of the purifiedalkaloids and the dried spent C. yanhusuo plant matter.
 17. The methodof claim 14, further comprising the step of infusing into a medicinalcomposition the mixture of the purified alkaloids and the dried spent C.yanhusuo plant matter.
 18. The method of claim 14, further comprisingthe step of infusing into a kief composition the mixture of the purifiedalkaloids and the dried spent C. yanhusuo plant matter.
 19. The methodof claim 14, further comprising the step of infusing into a rollingpaper the mixture of the purified alkaloids and the dried spent C.yanhusuo plant matter.
 20. The method of claim 14, further comprisingthe step of infusing into a smoking filter a mixture of the purifiedalkaloids and dried spent C. yanhusuo plant matter.
 21. A vaporizingliquid comprising a mixture of the purified alkaloids from the C.yanhusuo plant produced by the method of claim
 16. 22. A medicinalcompound comprising a mixture of the purified alkaloids from the C.yanhusuo plant produced by the method of claim
 17. 23. A kiefcomposition comprising a mixture of the purified alkaloids from the C.yanhusuo plant produced by the method of claim
 18. 24. At least onerolling paper comprising a mixture of the purified alkaloids from the C.yanhusuo plant produced by the method of claim
 19. 25. A smoking filtercomprising a mixture of the purified alkaloids from the C. yanhusuoplant produced by the method of claim 20.